For those now pinning their hopes on Vista’s Service Pack 2, there’s a goal in sight. TechARP reports that SP2 is scheduled to ship in April:

A confidential source has revealed that Microsoft will deliver a Release Candidate in February, 2009 with the final SP2 binary scheduled for RTM (Release To Manufacturing) in April, 2009.

As always, do remember that when Microsoft announces that a product is RTM, it doesn’t mean you will be able to download it right away. RTM merely means it is "released to manufacturing", including OEMs. Actual public release will be sometime later. Release to web (RTW) will also occur sometime after RTM.

In a separate entry, TechARP also has some details on what will be in SP2 (beyond the usual bug and security fixes):

• Adds Windows Search 4.0 for faster and improved relevancy in searches. • Contains the Bluetooth® 2.1 Feature Pack supporting the most recent specification for Bluetooth Technology. • Ability to record data on to Blu-Ray™ media natively in Windows Vista. • Adds Windows Connect Now (WCN) to simplify Wi-Fi Configuration. • Enables the exFAT file system to support Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) timestamps, which allows correct file synchronization across time zones.

That’s a fairly anemic set of new features. Microsoft needs to do what it can to keep up Vista’s momentum in advance of the expected release in late 2009 or early 2010 of Windows 7, which is why SP2 is being rushed out the door a little more than a year after SP1 was released.

TechARP, a Malaysian-based tech site, has a good track record for nailing Windows service pack release dates. It got the scoop on releases for Vista SP1 and XP SP3, so you can put a certain amount of confidence in the Vista SP2 dates – so long as Microsoft’s own schedule doesn’t slip.